Snow, Snow, Snow!

It's good to know that snow can't stop Curriculum Planning and Development!!! It's pretty awesome having a tech savvy teacher who can continue on with class through a snow storm!! Elluminate Live was pretty cool. Who knew you could have such an interactive class through the computer? I had no idea! But I am glad I have this class to learn things like this. I really did love Elluminate Live. I really felt like I was in class seeing Dr. Smirnova on the screen and hearing her voice. It really felt like class when we got sent into our groups! I didn't really catch on to how to make a text box and start writing. I made lots of mistakes but the experience was worth it! I think Nick did an awesome job with Microteaching online. I for one would never ever know how to accomplish that. It would probably help if I had a microphone and webcam in my computer. But onto Assessment, the topic of the week! Another important area of education. It was great reading up and learning about assessments, because my idea of assessments before this class were standardized tests, or what I learned in the readings, summative assessments :) I really like the idea that assessments give teachers the chance to see where the student is in their learning. Since it is really important to remember that all students are at different levels of learning, and each student processes information differently, it is important to give students Diagnostic Assessments. I think that KWL charts are an awesome way to go to see what each student already knows, and ideally self-evaluations of each student would be a good way to see what they know. I have always thought that the students are the center of the classroom and that teachers should plan their lessons to student's best interests. With formative assessments it lets the student be student centered and allows them to grow in strength as a student. By providing the student feedback it allows them to know and understand what they are or are not doing so they can improve. Teacher-Student Interaction, I feel, is a vital part to any classroom. If the student feels that the teacher is on their side and wants them to learn it will help the student focus more on learning. Overall, I learned a lot about assessments, and experienced a virtual classroom. Both of which I will take with me in the future!